Obchodna Street Area Scene Miniguide

Obchodna (see map) used to be the city's booming commercial street in the Communist era. Now during the day it is still alive and buzzing with shoppers, although most shops are not of the classiest kind. In the evening, Obchodna area offers vibrant nightlife, with somewhat of a teenager focus. Obchodna begins at the top of the SNP Square, near Michael's Gate and runs for about 1 km. Vysoka is a sidestreet of Obchodna with a number of interesting restaurants.Bars/CafesApolon Cafe - gay cafe at Vysoka, formerly known as Little Barbaros, is a cosy cafe with dim lights. It is the official gathering place of the local gay and lesbian community.Bagel and Coffee Story - part of chain offering bagels and freshly roasted coffee.Bratislava Flagship Restaurant - not received favourably by the critics but with a long back story, run by the Slovak sheep hearder Alojz HlinaCafe Central - trendy cafe near the distant end of Obchodna serving a variety of beverages including coffee creations, milkshakes and coctails. The cafe is frequented by a mixed crowd of students and business people during the day.Coffee & Co - chain offering coffee, cakes, sandwiches, smoking inside.Film Cafe Kenvelo Fashion Cafe - glitzy cafe bar and lounge representing the popular Kenvelo fashion brand located above its Bratislava flagship store. Mixed drinks and DJs keep the (teenage) young and trendy crowd entertained.ClubsCocoloco - at top of SNP Square Duna (CLOSED) - underground club lounge in the basement nuclear fallout shelter of one of Bratislava's universities is at Radlinskeho, the extension of Obchodna. Refurbished in 2005, Duna now offers stylish interiors and several bars mostly for a dance and electronica crowd.Radost Lounge - friendly chill-out lounge with an oriental theme, reasonable prices, DJs and creative snacks in a cellar in the middle of Obchodna.RestaurantsAl Dente - glass and chrome Italian restaurant at street level of the Tatracentrum building at Hodzovo Square (entrance from Vysoka/Postova side).Ashoka Indian Restaurant - authentic Indian restaurant in Zivnostenska street (between Kollarovo Square and Vysoka)Film Restaurant - film-themed restaurant at the Film Hotel on Vysoka.Fusion Restaurant - high-end Asian fusion at the Crowne Plaza.Govinda - vegetarian restaurant underground on Obchodna run by the Hare Krishna serving a lunch menu with excellent value, as well as delicious Indian sweets and teas. Popular lunch spot for the young city centre alternative crowd.Greeks - two Greek venues - a restaurant and gyros shop (open only in the Summer)Happy Kebap - Turkish late night kebap and pizza shop on Postova and new location at Obchodna.Hotel Tatra - traditional business hotel on 1. Maja Square with a well regarded restaurant, now rebuilt and extended into a conference hotel.KFC - it took the colonel long to find Bratislava but now he is here.Major Zeman - crowded pizzeria and pub on Vysoka.McDonalds - well, a McDonalds...Pizza Hut - by the Crowne Plaza at Drevena IS NO LONGER, NOW IT IS THE Mestiansky Pivovar - a fresh microbrewery on DrevenaVegetarian Dining Hall at Citypoint - excellent value for money and an extensive selection of vegetarian lunch menus with self-service.Primo Amore - some say this inconspicuous Italiam place makes Bratislava's best pizzaTulip - popular Turkish place open lateVenuesKGB - popular pub in an underground cellar with a Communist history theme.Kino CafeNova Scena Theatre - part of the Slovak National Theatre, a drama stageSlovak Pub - one of Bratislava's most original pubs, a large student hangout with many nooks and crannies, very well priced beer and a selection of tasty yet cheap Slovak dishes. Nearby Europa Pub.Tatracentrum - seat of Tatra Banka and a small shopping mall with a Billa supermarket.ULUV - Centre for Folk Arts and Crafts selling Slovak folk products and running workshops. Houses the U Remeselnika Restaurant.